Apocalypse: My Items Upgrade Infinitely

"Would you be willing to join me in killing these bugs?"

As he spoke, Lin Feng placed a dagger in Chen Yanyan's hand, his smile fading as his expression turned serious. He needed reliable companions, not burdens.

Chen Yanyan swallowed nervously, instinctively recoiling under his scrutinizing gaze, a hint of fear visible in her demeanor.

Lin Feng shrugged, standing up abruptly, causing her to fall backward in surprise.

Seeing her seductive facade drop to reveal fear, Lin Feng pointed the dagger at her chest:

"One more thing, how long have you been involved with Lin Youzhi?"

Chen Yanyan understood the implication in his words and nervously explained:

"I just joined last year and have only been with him a few months, but we never did anything... improper. Lin Youzhi hired me just for social functions, really... It seemed like he wasn't interested in that way..."

Lin Feng interrupted her with a shake of his head:

"Don't try to convince me; you need to convince her."

He gestured toward the door before tossing the dagger onto her chest and leaving the bedroom.

Having lived as a widow for years, Zhang Yuruo surely understood Lin Youzhi's nature. Lin Feng trusted that she wasn't naive; if he could see through it, there was no reason Yuruo couldn't.

Perhaps she simply refrained from confronting Chen Yanyan due to Lin Youzhi's recent death and the urgent need to escape. In death, people are often afforded respect, but the deceased also hold no value.

Lin Feng harbored deeper concerns.

Entering the living room, he walked to the kitchen, seeing his sister-in-law wearing an apron, frying eggs.

Zhang Yuruo turned, her eyes slightly red. Upon seeing Lin Feng, she forced a smile:

"It's almost ready. I'm just reheating last night's leftovers."

Lin Feng took a deep breath, deciding to address the issue directly:

"Though it may seem harsh, I hope you won't be too upset about Lin Youzhi. Given our current situation, we must remain in top form..."

"And regarding Chen Yanyan, there's no need to hold back. Sometimes, speaking the truth is better than keeping it bottled inside."

"Once we're outside, facing these terrifying bugs, any mistake could be fatal. I don't want any rifts in our team..."

"Sister-in-law, if you don't want to bring her along... leaving her here would be enough. We've done our duty."

Once Lin Feng finished, Zhang Yuruo couldn't hold back any longer. Tears welled up, and she flung herself into his arms, crying.

Lin Feng embraced her tightly, knowing that sometimes a hug was more comforting than words.

After a while, when the eggs in the pan were beginning to burn and Zhang Yuruo had vented her emotions, she suddenly lifted her head from his embrace and kissed Lin Feng deeply, taking him by surprise.

Lin Feng's eyes widened as the situation unfolded unexpectedly. He never imagined that the gentle, well-mannered Yuruo would have such a side.

He gently turned off the stove to prolong the moment.

A minute later, they separated.

"Sis, sis, sister-in-law..."

Zhang Yuruo's eyes held a hint of affection. Seeing Lin Feng's bewildered and tongue-tied expression, she placed a finger on his lips:

"I never got the chance to thank you for saving me."

"I saw through Lin Youzhi long ago. These are tears of regret for my past choices. How could I mourn for someone like him..."

"I know you're concerned for me, and I appreciate it. But Chen Yanyan is also a pitiable woman. Don't make things hard for her. As long as she listens, bring her along."

Lin Feng nodded gently, relieved that she could let go, sparing him further worry.

Having said that, Zhang Yuruo returned to the stove to reheat the leftovers, her cheeks flushed, as she glanced at Lin Feng:

"Xiaofeng, if you don't mind, you can think of me as your sister from now on. Don't call me sister-in-law; I don't like it."

Lin Feng understood the deeper meaning in her words, a thrill of excitement and joy coursing through him:

"Okay. Yuruo... sister..."

Zhang Yuruo smiled, a smile he hadn't seen in a while, and held up the spatula:

"Go and get ready. Stop worrying about me."

Lin Feng nodded and, as he turned to leave, heard the soft sound of a door closing outside the kitchen, his smile widening.

He went to the utility cabinet on the balcony, finding some fine steel wire to reinforce the shield.

Entering the bedroom, he found Chen Yanyan making faces at him, feeling regretful and frustrated.

She realized she couldn't let go, and Zhang Yuruo had been quicker to make a move.

Seeing Lin Feng ignore her, Chen Yanyan stepped forward, attempting to grab his hand:

"Feng, can I be your girlfriend?"

Lin Feng withdrew his hand:

"No."

Chen Yanyan lifted her pant leg, revealing her shapely calf, her eyes filled with longing:

"Why? Is it because I'm not attractive enough, or is my figure not as good as your sister-in-law's?"

Lin Feng shrugged, answering honestly:

"I don't date dead people. First, ensure you survive getting out of Haicheng. Those terrifying bugs won't spare you just because you're pretty."

"For all you know, your floral scent might attract them more."

Having said that, he continued reinforcing the shield, leaving Chen Yanyan both frustrated and helpless.

When he finished, Zhang Yuruo's voice called from outside, announcing that breakfast was ready.

Lin Feng ate the most, sitting in the middle.

Devouring breakfast quickly, Lin Feng sat by the balcony window, resting and observing the outside.

The neighborhood was stained with blood. About a dozen red beetles were feasting on corpses, suggesting the swarm wasn't large. Living in the suburbs had its benefits.

However, his phone had lost signal, and the city was experiencing a blackout. Fortunately, the solar eclipse was ending...

The sky finally brightened.

Three hours had passed since the eclipse and the giant insect swarm attack, bringing the time to 11 a.m.

A typical eclipse lasted minutes, but this one extended for three hours, likely linked to the insect swarm. But the immediate concern wasn't the phenomenon; it was escaping without falling prey to the insects.

During the break, occasional screams nearby indicated people encountering the insects, instilling fear in the remaining survivors, who dared not make a sound.

After preparing, Lin Feng drew his handgun, finding the magazine fully reloaded. He now had two full magazines, totaling 24 bullets.

More than enough for one or two red beetles.

Approaching the door, he checked the hallway through the peephole, ensuring no insects were present. Raising his shield, he looked back at the two women, who gripped their weapons nervously.

Lin Feng reassured them:

"Don't worry. From my observation, there are only about a dozen giant insects in the entire neighborhood. Our building has at most one or two."

He disengaged the handgun's safety and reminded them:

"Remember what I said earlier. If my shots don't kill it, wait for the bug to attack, then use your knives. While I reload, I'll rely on you to hold it off."

"Remember! Running alone means death. Only by sticking together and cooperating can we find a way out."

With that, he turned and opened the door slightly, checking the upper wall for lurking beetles. Pushing the door open, he entered the hallway.

He wedged the door with a piece of wood, then used his shield to knock on the stair railing, creating a dull sound that echoed up and down the stairs.

Lin Feng hoped to draw the red beetle to him.

But after a while, there was no reaction, no sound from above or below.

He looked at the blood trail left by the beetle as it fled, guessing it was still downstairs.

Leading the women, he cautiously descended to the second-floor landing.

Soon, he smelled blood and heard faint chewing sounds from below.

At the bend, Lin Feng peered down.

The door to apartment 201 was open, and a red beetle was crouched over a woman's body, its vicious maw full of fangs devouring her abdomen, consuming fresh organs.

Lin Feng recognized the woman—a kindergarten teacher who had recently married.

She still retained some consciousness, her head drooping, blood at her mouth. Seeing Lin Feng and the others, her lips quivered, seemingly trying to ask for help.

Sensing something amiss, the beetle slowly turned its head.

Lin Feng saw its half-destroyed head, confirming it was the one he'd previously injured.

A quick appraisal verified this:

"Red Armored Beetle, lv3/9"

"Health: 12, Constitution: 6, Spirit: 1"

"Severely injured, in poor condition, recovering from injuries through feeding."

He recalled it had only 8 health when it fled. In just three hours, it had regained 4 health points by consuming flesh...

An astonishing recovery rate!

Seeing Lin Feng and the others, the beetle clamped onto its prey's leg, trying to drag her into the apartment.

Lin Feng reacted swiftly, raising his gun to aim.

At just five or six meters, he targeted the beetle's damaged head and fired multiple shots!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"